Squamous cell carcinoma of the colon: evaluation of treatment modalities and survival

Abstract

BackgroundSquamous cell carcinoma of the colon (CSCC) is a rare subtype of colon cancer. This study aimed to evaluate treatment strategies and overall survival (OS). MethodsUsing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database from 2008 to 2019, patients aged 18 years with CSCC were identified. Treatment strategies and OS were summarized using the Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model ratios were calculated to evaluate the effect of confounding variables. ResultsAfter exclusions, 153 patients met the inclusion criteria. The most common treatment modalities included surgery alone (52.1%), surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (12.9%), and no treatment (26.4%). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients who underwent surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy had significant improvements in OS (log-rank P = .002). Cox regression analysis revealed tumor grade (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% CI, 1.17–3.86) and receipt of chemotherapy (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.23–5.76) as the only factors associated with improvements in OS. ConclusionPatients who underwent surgery in combination with chemotherapy had better OS than those who underwent surgery alone. Tumor grade and receipt of chemotherapy were independently associated with OS.